Chapter 126
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: A Clear Rejection
"I thought they were still observing the situation."
Diel's eyes narrowed.
The reply was so fast it was almost suspicious.
Until now, the East had no leading family.
The glory of the past had long since faded from memory, and the Artban family was always pushed to the back.
Few families wanted to associate with the Artbans, burdened as they were by the unstable political climate of the East, where the tides could turn at any moment.
But now that the Kiraas family had sent a positive response, more families would soon be reaching out.
Elvin frowned at the metallic scent wafting through the air.
Even though the situation in the vicinity had mostly been resolved, the smell of blood still lingered.
"What's the South's reaction?"
"They're quiet. We've sent them a letter, just like the other families, but..."
"I hear Aileen Astrofel is in the North."
"Yes, that's correct. But it seems she will be returning to the South."
It wasn't certain, but it was a high probability.
Since they knew the Artban family was targeting Aileen Astrofel.
"But, Gajunim."
"Speak."
"May I ask why you are still targeting Aileen Astrofel, even now that we have conquered the entire East?"
"Because if I don't, the Astrofel family will come for mine."
An all-out war was inevitable.
He had started it, after all. The plan he had been concocting since long before he became the head of the family was still in motion.
"Things went awry, but in the end, Ella wasn't entirely useless."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"You'll find out later. For now, we must go to the North."
To proceed with his plan, he had to go to the North.
"I'm also curious to see just how remarkable her abilities are."
"Are you saying you will go yourself?"
"The potential gain is great, so it seems worthwhile. Be careful this information doesn't get out, Elvin."
Diel smiled sweetly.
If only he could get his hands on Aileen Astrofel.
"The day the South is under my heel will not be far off."
* * *
When you don't know the reason for something, the right thing to do is to keep it close and observe.
I decided to stay near Sage and watch him to figure out why.
At first, I used the necklace as an excuse to visit him.
When I went to his office to see him, Sage greeted me with a bright smile.
"Aileen, good of you to come. It seems you know your way around the castle now."
"Yeah. I've gotten used to it. I could find my way around with my eyes closed now."
It was a slight exaggeration.
In truth, I had gotten lost looking for his office and had to circle the same area twice.
I only knew the general location of Sage's office; this was the first time I'd actually come to see it.
Sage, perhaps sensing the exaggeration in my tone, let out a small laugh.
"That's a relief. It seems like just yesterday you were worried about getting lost in this maze. Did you come all the way to my office because of the necklace?"
"Mm. That, and... other things? I was curious to see you work, and I wanted to see you."
Of course, if he said no, there was nothing I could do. But as they say, you can't spit on a smiling face.
I asked with a bashful smile.
"Can I stay here for just a little while?"
In that moment, the flow of Sage's pheromones into the necklace faltered and sputtered.
He stared at me blankly, then let out a soft sigh and covered his eyes.
Ah, did I say something troublesome while he's busy?
"Are you busy? If you are, I'll just go back..."
"No."
Sage replied quickly, handing me the necklace. It was a firm answer, unlike before.
"Not at all. I'm not busy. My aide is very competent."
"Really?"
But I thought his pheromones faltered earlier. Or was there another reason for that?
It could have been because he was concentrating on infusing the necklace with his pheromones.
Pheromone stones can break easily if you make a mistake.
"Th-that's right. Because I am competent."
For some reason, the aide didn't seem too happy about it, though.
But since he said it was fine, I guess it doesn't matter.
I smiled brightly at Sage and said,
"Thank you, Sage."
Up until then, I thought things were going very smoothly.
I had even hoped that we could talk and resolve whatever reason he had for avoiding me.
His aide, Yves, came to find me.
"What? ...Sage asked you to give this to me?"
"Yes. He said he would be too busy to take care of you for a while, so he asked me to deliver this in advance."
Yves shook the jewelry box at me, urging me to take it.
When I opened it, I found a variety of accessories infused with Sage's pheromones.
"What... is this?"
"We prepared a variety, thinking you might get tired of wearing the same necklace design."
"Ah."
That's not what I was asking. I stared blankly at the elegantly crafted accessories.
This was enough to last at least a week without needing to see him.
"...How busy is he that he prepared this much?"
"I'm not sure about that myself. Well then, I'll be on my way."
Yves bowed his head and disappeared.
I was left standing there for a long time, holding the jewelry box he had given me.
His aide, Yves, doesn't know when Sage's schedule will clear up?
That was absurd.
So, right now.
"He's telling me not to come looking for him, isn't he?"
It was a clear signal of rejection.
Two days have passed since then.
And my certainty that Sage was avoiding me was growing stronger.
"Sigh."
"Agassi, why the long sigh? Has something been troubling you lately?"
As I let out the sigh I'd been holding in, Hestia, who had been waiting all morning for a chance to ask what was wrong, seized the opportunity.
Would anything change if I told Hestia my worries?
Besides, Hestia was going through her own troubles.
I couldn't burden her with my problems on top of her own.
"No, it's nothing."
"But you don't look well."
"..."
"If it's because of me..." Hestia's expression darkened. Since my answer was evasive, she seemed to misunderstand, thinking I was worried because of her.
That was part of it, but... I quickly shook my head, denying it.
"It's not that. Really."
"Then what is it? When you look so down, Agassi, it makes me feel down too."
"Umm."
Can I really confide in them about something like this?
Paymon, who was nearby, was also glancing over, clearly curious.
Since coming to the North, our rotating guard duty had changed to a full close-protection detail, so Paymon must have seen and heard everything that had happened to me.
He must have been curious about Yves suddenly showing up and dumping a pile of accessories on me.
He couldn't have heard the conversation in the office, after all.
To be honest, I still don't understand. I don't think I made any particular mistake that day.
Seeing my hesitation, Hestia gave me a look that urged me to just say it.
After hesitating and hesitating, I finally decided to confess.
"Hestia. You know..."
"Yes, Agassi."
Paymon quietly brought over a chair and sat down next to us.
I glanced between the two of them and began to properly air my grievances.
"...Can a person change so suddenly?"
Like they've become a completely different person?
The Sage who had shown his feelings to me before now felt like an illusion.
Hestia looked a little taken aback.
As if she hadn't expected me to voice my troubles in the form of a question.
"Hmm, that's a difficult one. Is someone suddenly treating you differently, Agassi?"
"...A little?"
It was ambiguous. Considering he had Yves deliver those things, it seemed like he still cared about me.
"May I ask who this person is?"
Paymon asked with a sweet smile.
But the aura emanating from him was incredibly sinister.
He looked ready to hunt down and poison whoever's name I mentioned.
Yeah, no. I can't.
I habitually fiddled with the ring on my finger. I had to admit, it was fun to pick out which one to wear.
This one had a design with pheromone stones beautifully embedded at regular intervals.
"By the way, where did you get that?"
"This? ...It's just, you know."
Hestia, seeing my hand below the table, showed interest. I subtly hid my hand.
But it seemed I couldn't hide the aura contained within the ring.
"Could it be..."
"Ah, haha. Well."
I couldn't bring myself to tell them I'd decided to get help from Sage, so I'd kept it a secret.
Besides, Hestia thought this whole situation was her fault.
Even though it wasn't at all.
But unexpectedly, Hestia's reaction was very calm.
"I had a feeling, so you don't have to hide it, Agassi."
"How...?"
"It just seemed natural that you would."
"...I see. Um, you know, Hestia."
"It's alright, Agassi."
Hestia smiled gently. Her expression said she knew what was weighing on my mind.
"As long as you can be comfortable, that's all that matters. Our goal is to keep you in top condition until the day we return to the South, after all."
"Yeah."
"So Sage Kiraas must have prepared that ring for you, too."
"...Yeah."
My voice came out low. He'd given them to me so we wouldn't have to see each other for a few days; there was no way I'd be happy about it.
And at my reaction, Paymon was horrified.
"Agassi, don't tell me. Are you in a bad mood because you can't see Sage Kiraas?"
"No, of course not. I'm just... because Sage is..."
...avoiding me, that's why I'm in a bad mood. That is the reason, but...
Why am I in a bad mood because Sage is avoiding me?
Suddenly, I realized my feelings toward Sage had subtly changed.